Week 1 Update: Uplands Ho!
over 7 years ago
– Thu, Oct 20, 2016 at 09:37:35 PM
Hi, folks! We’ve had an extremely exciting first week, currently cruising along at $9,449 as I write this. That means we’re just a little bit over $1,500 away from our next stretch goal: Jez Gordon’s cartography making an appearance in OPERATION UNFATHOMABLE. We’ve got a lot of awesome ideas prepped for our stretch goals, but we still need your help to get there. Please spread the word on social media and message boards, in your gaming groups, and wherever else you think foolh-- er, brave souls eager to delve the Underworld might be!
The draft manuscript for OPERATION UNFATHOMABLE was sent out to backers last week (CHECK YOUR EMAILS, BACKERS!), but today we’re going to be previewing an excerpt from The Odious Uplands - Chook-ah-ah, the Oracular Man-Ape Tattooist! You’ve seen Chook in the sample Odious Uplands layout on the Kickstarter page, but here’s a clearer look at this tenacious tattooist.
Since the slow extinction of his people in the ice age of 6,000-odd years past, Chook-ah-ah wandered the southern lands and watched the rise of humanity with bemused detachment, an immortal pilgrim without destination. When the glaciers suddenly retreated, he veered north to visit the obliterated ruins of his former homeland and now haunts the Crab Forest, where he has devoted himself to gorging on crab, meditation, crafting and adorning the forest with inscrutable totemic artworks, and the occasional oracular tattoo. Chook’s powerful consciousness ranges far from his physical body at will (as per astral spell). He automatically senses any intrusion into the Crab Forest and will launch an immediate investigation, observing from concealment and aided by his ESP power. After a brief period of surveillance, he greets those who seek his counsel, invites them to his home to eat crab, drink fern frond wine, and, if so inclined, receive tattoos of an oracular nature.
The oracle leads those willing through the forest, pointing out with pride each of the innumerable wooden idols he has crafted and installed, each more bizarre than the last, until they arrive at his small clearing and dwelling place beneath great pine bows. Chook keeps the home fires burning and always has vast quantities of crab steaming beneath heaps of giant fern fronds (also edible) to offer guests. Chook stays hydrated via a small natural spring close by and keeps a stone basin filled for household use.
Sample Dialog
- “Ho ho ho! Hello cousins! Who wants a nice tattoo? Come, come, follow me home.”
- “Put your sharp toys away. You cannot threaten me, my death is foretold and not for such as you to hasten.”
- “I can only answer your questions one way. Who shall be my canvas?”
- “Ah ha ha! Of course there’s significant risk of infection, but what enlightenment comes free of cost?"
As always, questions or concerns can be sent to us through Kickstarter, or by dropping us an email at [email protected].
-The OU Team
